Fight for lawyer Sebalu’s property deepens

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The fight for fallen city lawyer Paulo Sebalu’s multibillion estate has deepened with the family members getting divided into two camps

Sematimba’s father asks for DNA on Sebalu’s daughter

By Chris Kiwawulo

The fight for fallen city lawyer Paulo Sebalu’s multi-billion estate has deepened with the family members getting divided into two camps.

This was after one group led by Pastor Peter Sematimba’s father placed a caveat on the estate of the late Sebalu yet another group led by Sebalu’s daughter, Themi Nakibuuka, was in advanced stages of securing letters of administration of the estate valued at about $2m (over sh5b) with the developments thereon.

Pastor Sematimba’s father (Fred G. Sematimba) has since asked for a DNA on Nakibuuka, saying he doubts she is Sebalu’s biological child.

According to minutes purportedly from a meeting of the family of the late Kiwanuka Serwano about the late Sebalu’s estate held on June 1, 2014, at the home of Pastor Sematimba’s father in Makindye, Serwano’s family resolved to manage the estate of the late Sebalu.

“Because the late had expressed to some people that Nakibuuka was not his daughter, the (Serwano) family resolved that the issue of Nakibuuka being the late’s daughter needs to be resolved through a DNA test,” one of the resolutions read. The minutes were tendered in court to support the caveat placed on June 6, 2014.

The meeting resolved to put caveats on all assets and properties of the late Sebalu and choose an heir to him.

The meeting resolutions added that if Nakibuuka is found to be a child of Sebalu, then she would too be made part of the family administrative body of the deceased’s estate.

The meeting named a family administrative body for the late’s estate which consists of; David Nkugwa and Sematimba’s father (both brothers to the late); Betsy Nsangi, Damalie Kiwanuka, Edith Nankya Musansala, Robinah Namubiru and Kate Ndagire, all sisters to the late.

Through Katutsi and Lamunu advocates, Sematimba’s father also swore an affidavit supporting the caveat where he objected to granting letters of administration for Sebalu’s estate to Nakibuuka and four other co-administrators.

Nakibuuka’s co-administrators are; former deputy chief Justice Alice Mpagi Bahigeine, Businessman Gordon Wavamuno, Dr. Stephen Kijjambu and Samuel Njuki. Justice Lillian Mwandha, the deputy registrar of the High Court’s family division appointed them administrators in a March 4, 2014.

However, when New Vision contacted Samuel Nkugwa, the heir to Serwano’s family about the said family meeting, he denied knowledge of it. “I am not aware of any meeting. I am surprised if it indeed took place because as the head of the family I should have been informed.”

Two other family members; Damalie Kiwanuka and Betsy Nsangi who were included on the list of those who attended also denied ever attending the meeting let alone knowing the resolutions.

When contacted, Pastor Sematimba’s father said he was in a noisy place and asked to be called again after getting away. But on calling him again, his cellphone was switched off.

On his part, Pastor Sematimba has since the row started declined to comment on the matter, saying he does not discuss his private life in the media.

In February 2014, Nakibuuka through Muwema and Mugerwa advocates filed a case in the High Court accusing Pastor Sematimba of fraudulently transferring her father’s property into his name.

Nakibuuka accuses Sematimba, the proprietor of Super FM radio, of intermeddling with the estate of her late father.

Muyenga Resort Hotel proprietors and the commissioner for land registration, Sarah Kulata, are also respondents in the case.

Nakibuuka, Sebalu’s only surviving biological child, also accuses Kulata of aiding the alleged fraudulent transfer of her father’s property into the name of Sematimba. Sebalu, a senior lawyer and one of the proprietors of Sebalu and Lule advocates died on November 8, 2013, at the age of 88.

Sematimba was Sebalu’s nephew; implying that Sematimba is Nakibuuka’s cousin. Sematimba’s father was a half-brother to Sebalu (they share a father).

The prime land measuring 0.48 acres in Muyenga on block 244 plots 5867, 1792, 3646 and 1791 is where the famous Muyenga club is situated.

The Muyenga land is estimated at a value of about $2m (about sh5b) with the developments thereon.

According to documents seen by New Vision, Sematimba transferred the Muyenga land from Sebalu’s name into his on December 11, 2013, which Nakibuuka contested as a forgery.

Sematimba had also changed the name of Muyenga Club into Muyenga Resort Hotel. Documents show that Sematimba together with Juliet Nambi Nantongo were the directors of Muyenga Resort Hotel while Charles Ssemakula was the company secretary.

On March 4, court ordered Sematimba out of the late Sebalu’s property in Muyenga, a city suburb, after Nakibuuka lodged a petition claiming that Sematimba had denied her access to Muyenga Club.

Nakibuuka also secured a restraint order stopping Sematimba and his agents from accessing Muyenga Club.

Meanwhile, Police is still investigating circumstances surrounding Sebalu’s death after reports that Sebalu could have been murdered.